HIGHS

LOWS

Ummm – needs more blood on the decks!

REVIEW: MARITIMO M59 priced from $2,143,000

Maritimo has once again stamped its exemplary brand on one of the world’s leading motor yachts – the new M59. Whilst the model was revealed to Australasia during last year’s Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, the curtains were unfurled internationally at the prestigious Miami Show in February. The M59 and its sporty sistership, the S59 sedan cruiser, both debuted in Australia at SCIBS with a glowing reception. Maritimo has blended the world of chic luxury and nautical practicality in the enticing, wide-bodied M59 temptress.

Let’s face it the M59 is a cruising yacht with its extended flybridge, hydraulic rear platform and rear lounge. It’s not a dedicated sports fisher but what better way to test a rig than to spend a day at sea under the guise of chasing marlin. Hence four stainless steel rod holders were quickly fitted to the coamings pre-empting a 4.30am start to our ‘boat test’ leaving the Maritimo Service and Ship Yard at Hope Harbour on the Gold Coast, with the aim to catch a bigun. (Seriously Queensland, sunrise at 4.30am – daylight savings really doesn’t make the blinds fade faster or spoil the milk!)

SPEAKS VOLUMES

Stepping onto the M59, even in my somewhat bleary state due to the early hour, the first thing I immediately noticed was the exceptionally wide beam giving the package enormous volume and the following amenity. Its beam is 5.46m (17ft 11in for us old hacks) which is a good 300-400mm wider than many comparable hulls. It certainly enriches the feeling of space, security and stability.

This is a great looking boat in anyone’s eyes; in fact it’s more like nautical eye candy to me. Maritimo describe it as, "sporting a dynamic profile with a powerful and athletic stance". It features a big proud brow with beautiful entry and a curvaceous sheerline, with a step in the gunwales leading graciously to the cockpit coamings. The large foredeck is flat and very workable, whether you opt for sun pads for the mermaids or perhaps a davit and tender. Maritimo has ensured that the ceiling hatches in the cabin are spread either side of the central line to facilitate these deck options. The walkways around the cabin are wide and easily traversed as well as being well enclosed by the extended bow rail for both safety at sea plus retaining the littluns.

BIG BOYS’ TOYS

The visual appeal is accentuated by the dashing cabin and enclosed flybridge design with their superb mouldings, elegant and expansive windows plus extended fibreglass awnings to both the cockpit and flybridge levels. From the rear the M59 invites you on board via the optional hydraulic rear platform. You step up easily up to the cockpit via rear doors either side of the transom module. Out back we find a fridge/freezer, barbecue and a hatch for entry to the huge storage garage/lazarette that is also accessed via the pivoting hydraulic lifts that raise the entire rear of the cockpit and gunwales for loading large water toys and equipment similar to that of the M51. "The back of the boat opens up to a large storage space which is perfect for a tender and all the water toys you could want," said Maritimo international sales and marketing manager, Greg Haines.

The rear deck itself is really very large and the added beam plus teak deck help the grandiose feeling. The coaming heights are just right and they contain a rope locker either side that can be converted to live bait tanks or have ice makers fitted if desired. At the rear is a luxurious lounge with a solid timber table on twin pedestals forming an ideal setting for entertaining or just simply relaxing. Pull a couple of folding chairs from the lazarette and the party really begins.

TRIM & TERRIFIC

The bi-fold rear doors can be used as an individual entry, or divided either side with options to open as a full al fresco. Inside, the stairwell to the flybridge greets you ahead with the electrical control panels enclosed in the cabinetry immediately to your left. There’s a central island bench and L-shaped galley to the starboard. The level of internal trim is aesthetically magnificent and at the same time warm and inviting. It combines hand-crafted timber, mainly teak or walnut, with high-gloss surfaces, ivory leather upholstery, polished stainless steel fittings, white upholstered head linings and black window trims all combined in a highly functional layout from the galley, flybridge and saloon and right through the luxurious staterooms and ensuites.

The galley is fitted with premium Miele appliances including a full-size dishwasher, fridge/freezer, ‘Speed oven’ (incorporating grill, microwave and oven), four-plate convection cooktop, rangehood and a huge pantry all set in magnificent cabinetry with bone Corian-style benchtops. There is also a large chest fridge/freezer unit plus ice maker and chart table/storage in a functional multi-use unit under the stairwell.

Formal dining or just plain relaxing in the lap of luxury is well catered for in the saloon with a large U-shaped lounge complete with its own convertible table on the port side plus a further L-shaped lounge to the starboard. The fine leather upholstery is thickly padded and exceptionally comfortable and the entire saloon and galley feels spacious and airy with just the right amount of visibility through the full window surrounds that are all fitted with silhouette blinds. The entire living space including the fully enclosed flybridge is serviced with reverse-cycle air-conditioning and heating, which not only serves our Australian range of climates but makes the M59 exceptionally appealing to those on the east coast of America where the recreational vessels venture from the snow-frozen waters of Massachusetts and Maine right down to the glowing warmth of Florida and the Bahamas.

WAKE IN DELIGHT

The M59 is a three-cabin, two-bathroom vessel with flexible accommodation provided by the beautiful master stateroom amidships, accompanied by an island-style berth in the bow and a very functional visitors’/crew/kids’ quarters to the starboard with full head height plus convertible full double/twin single beds. There’s even more accommodation in the flybridge with a convertible divan-style lounge that also easily folds to another double. I reckon it would be a terrific place to wake up with a magnificent vista all around. "The versatility and clever use of space is highlighted with the addition of an optional fold-out bed on the flybridge which creates a separate private cabin with stunning views day and night," Haines said.

The master stateroom is a sheer delight. The queen island bed runs diagonally similar to the M62, creating a very individual dimension to nautical appointment. When I say individual, I mean I like it. The large bathroom is on the middle level with the other staterooms. There’s also a make-up table that I would utilise as a mobile office. I can see a point of difference among couples with the split levels but I personally liked the separation. The master is well serviced with plenty of functional storage and entertainment units, large TV, entertainment systems, flooding natural light and appropriate mood lighting, floor-to-ceiling mirror and its own lounge retreat.

Overall the galley, saloon and accommodation are uncompromising, spacious, luxurious and above all comfortable with plenty of room for a couple of families for extended cruising, or perhaps just that formal dinner party for the crowd.

FIVE-STAR FLYBRIDGE

Travelling in the fully enclosed flybridge on a glorious spring day with little wind or swell was quite surreal. You can set the climate to suit yourself as you cruise in an almost silent environment broken only by the cries of excited crewmen when dolphins and whales come close in a heartwarming display, or the (very) occasional cry of "Fish on" as a rugged little pelagic takes a lure. The flybridge feels more like a high-end apartment with the large L-shaped leather lounge/divan with its own convertible table, plus a further two-seater at the top of the stairwell. The flybridge features the same level of trim as downstairs with plush carpets, upholstered roof liners, a large side board/map cabinet plus an electronic sunroof. It truly provides a vista worthy of King Triton considering the 360-degree vision.

The Maritimo M59 demonstration package featured a full quiver of Simrad NSS16 Evo3 multi-function displays, a pair of Pompanette Signature series helmsman’s chairs plus all of the usual trim tabs, auto pilot, twin binnacle controls and multi-function readouts for the Volvo D13-800 powerplants that rocket this big girl up to a pleasing 28.2kts at wide open throttle (2300rpm). If we settle down to a far more sensible 19.75kts at 1900rpm we find a fast but economical cruise using 180Lt/h and 522nm range from the 4400lt fuel tanks. Premium performance is found at 16.45kts at 1700rpm using 140 Lt/h, giving 549nm range; and we trolled all day at around 8-9kts at around 800-900rpm where we seemed to be floating on a cushion and only using around 24Lt/h, giving over 2500nm range for those long sojourns on distant horizons.

All M59’s are pre-fitted for Seakeeper Gyro stabilisers if opted, and whilst they are unbelievably effective in maximising stability this is a very sure-footed package that perhaps doesn’t need it. However the customer has the choice as they are very effective for crew with minimal seafaring tummies. I was again delighted to find a very spacious and well-presented engine room, and that you can talk to this old sea dog until you are blue in the face but I still love the simplicity of twin shaft drive technology.

The Maritimo M59 is fitted as standard with a Cummins-Onan 17.5kW generator plus a 4.5kW inverter that runs all of the fridges/freezers, entertainment systems etc. She has a draft of 1.225m (4ft) and a water capacity of 700lt.

THE WRAP

Whilst my origins are in fishing I can really appreciate the inclusive appeal of the Maritimo M59. This is a gorgeous boat with terrific ability and seaworthiness for comfortable intercontinental cruising, or maybe just around the harbour. She has the credentials to take on the nastiest seas but still entertain a crowd in an upmarket harbourside mooring. For me it’s simple. Take out the rear lounge and hydraulic platform, install another set of engine controls on the bridge deck extension and she’s a ripper game fisher. But if your tastes are a little less piscatorial then take her just as she is – either way she’s an ideal temptress. Or you can fit the excellent fish transom like the M51.